Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-05-19
THE GARFIELD STATUE.
Imposing Ceremonies Attending Its I'm.
p yelling.
President Cleveland's Address Accept.
Ing the statue Ia Behalf OF tho
Nation as the GIN OF the
Army OF the Cumber-
land.

able arm chairs placed in the center of
the stand were reserved for President and
Mrs. Cleveland. Places were also resery.
ed for tho sculptor and other favored
guests A large circle surround.
ing tho monument was kept clear,
and the sidewalks were crowded
with spectators, Secretary Bayard and
Attorney General Garland were seated on
the left Of Mrs Cleveland aud the mem
hers OF the Supreme Court, district la,
dietary, court OF claims, district com
missioners and members of the diplomatic
corps and the sons of ex-President Gar,
field occupied some conspicuous seats near
the Presidents chair. AT 1 o'clock Gen.
erals Sherman, Sheridan and Rosecrans
and Gov. Curtin, arrived just after the
procession made its appearance. They
were soon followed by President Cleve,
land, escorted by General Anderson and
Secretary and Mrs. Fairchild, Col and
Mrs. Lamont, Postmaster General Villas
and Secretary Lamar Mrs. Cleveland
was accompanied by Mrs. Folsom, Miss
Bayard and Miss Welch. just after /
o clock she took her seat beside tho Presi.
dents chair. ExSecretary Window and
eX.Attorney General McVoigh, of Prcsi,
dent Garfields cabinet. were among the
guests present. At l10 Marshal Wilson
taking his place on the stand, said: AT.
tention ladies and gentlemen, the So.
ciety of the Army of the Cumberland,
with three distinguished guests, is Assem-.
bled here to-day for the purpose of un.
yelling the statue of that eminent states.
man and soldier, James A. Garfield"
After prayer the marine band struck up
Inn 49, Al 81 70 n "A a, a
ping Of hands the American flag envelop.
ing the statue was dropped and the great
bronze image stood exposed There was
short lull in the proceedings while tho
battery Of artillery fired national salute
Gen. Sheridan then introduced the orator
Of the day, General j. Warren Keller,
who, on the part Of the Monument Com
mittec, delivered an address, transferring
the statue to General Sheridan. At its
conclusion General Sheridan, in behalf Of
the society, transferred the statute to the
President In the following words: "Mr
Presidcnt-This statue which has been
unveiled in your presence to-day was
erected by the comrades Of General Gar.
field belonging to the Army of the Cum
berland. They recognized his merit as n
soldier and wished to pay some testimony
to that merit and TO his worth as man
| have the honor, sir, on behalf of the
society Of the Army Of the Cumberland,
to ask you as representative of the
American people to accept this statue
from their hands as IL was given to me. i"
The President, who arose as Sheridan
began speaking. then began his address,
accepting the statue as a gift to the ma
ton.
Fellow Citizens: In the performance
of the duty assigned TO me on this occas-
ion, | hereby accept, on behalf OF the
people of the United States, this complete
and beautiful statue. Amid the inter-
change of fraternal greetings between the
survivors OF the Army Of the Cumber-
land and their former foes upon the battle
field, and while the Union General and
the peoples President awaited burial,
the common grief Of the maganimous
survivors. and the mourning Of citizens
found expression In the determination to
erect this tribute to American greatness.
and thus to-day in Its symmetry and
beauty II presents sign OF animosities
forgotten, an emblem of brotherhood re-
deemed and token OF a nation restored.
Monuments and statues multiply through
the land. fittingly illustrative Of the love
and affection Of our grateful people. and
commemorating the brave and patriotic
sacrifices in war; fame in peaceful pur-
suits, or honor in public station. But
from this day forth there shall stand at
our seat Of government this statue of n
distinguished citizen, who In his life and
services combined all these things and
more, which challenges admiration in
American Misunderstanding tenderness In
every domestic relation; bravery on the
field Of battle; fame and distinction In our
halls OF legislation, and the highest honor
and dignity in the chief magistracy OF
the nation. This stately efiigy shall not
fail to teach every beholder that the
source Of American greatness Is confined
to no condition nor dependent alone for
its growth and development upon favor
able surroundings. The genius Of our
national life beckons to usefulness and
honor those in every sphere. and offers
the highest preferment to manly hopes
and sturdy, honest effort, chastened and
consccrated by patriotic hopes and aspi.
rations. AS long as this statue stands,
let IL be proudly remembered that to every
American citizen the way is open to fame
and station, until he, moving up, from
high to higher, becomes on fortunes
browning slope. the pillar Of a
peoples hopes, the center OF a
worlds desire. Nor can we forget that
II also teaches our people sad and dis
tressing lessons, and thoughtful citizens
who view its fair proportions cannot fail
to recall the tragedy Of death which
brought grief and mourning to every
household in the land. But while Ameri.
can citizenship stands aghast and alright.
ed that murder and assassination should
Turk in the midst Of free people and strike
down the head of their government. A
fearless search and the discovery of the
origin and hiding place Of these hateful
and unnatural things should be followed
by a solemn resolve to purge forever from
our political methods and from the opera
ton of our government the perversion
and misconception which gave birth to
the passionate and bloody thoughts. II
from this hour our admiration for BRAY
cry and nobility, American manhood and
our faith in the 70 satellites and oppor-
tunities of American citizenship be re-
newed, il our appreciation of the bless
ing that restored the Union and the love
of our government be strengthened, and
~ oui hS"hos VIZ uohSSAo
of the mad chase after partisan spoils be
quickened, the dedication Of this statute
to the people Of the United will not be in
vain.
During the delivery OF his address, the
President was frequently interrupted by
pursts or applause. When he concluded
the band played Hail Columbia" and
the benediction was pronounced. The
troops were then dismissed. Secretaries
Endicott and Whitney came during the
delivery of the Grafton.
The statue, which is bronze, is the de-
sign of sculptor ]. Q. A. Ward, who also
designed the equestrian statute Of General
Thomas in this city. 1t Is 10 feet 8 inch.
es in height, and represents Garfield facing
the west in the act Of delivering an ad'
dress, with his right hand resting on q
column and manuscript held in his left.
Recumbcnt ideal figures are al each cor
ner OF the triangular pedestal. represent,
ing the student. the warrior and the
statesman, IMPLYING three epochs IN